Sri Vijaya Puram, July 20: The Andaman Nicobar Chess Association (ANCA) successfully celebrated International Chess Day 2026 by organizing an Open Blitz Chess Tournament at Flag Point, Sri Vijaya Puram. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from chess players of all age groups, making it a memorable celebration of the game.
Mrs. Priyanka Kumari, DANICS, ADM, Director (Disaster Management) & Director (Art & Culture), A&N Administration, graciously consented to grace the inaugural session as the Chief Guest. She formally inaugurated the tournament by making the ceremonial first move and encouraged participants to uphold the values of discipline, concentration, sportsmanship, and fair play that chess represents.
The tournament was conducted successfully in a highly competitive yet friendly atmosphere, with players displaying exceptional skill and sporting spirit throughout the seven rounds.
The Closing Ceremony and Prize Distribution were graced by Shri K. Biju Nair, Chief Editor, as the Chief Guest. He congratulated all participants and distributed prizes to the Top 10 performers of the tournament.
The Top Three Winners of the tournament were:
Champion: Sachit Bara – 7.0 points
Runner-up: AFM Saw Jinson Samuel – 6.0 points
Second Runner-up: Shailender Singh – 6.0 points
The Chief Guests appreciated the efforts of the Andaman Nicobar Chess Association in successfully organizing the event and promoting chess among the youth and the public. The tournament received an overwhelming response from players, parents, and chess enthusiasts, making the celebration a grand success.
The Andaman Nicobar Chess Association extends its sincere gratitude to the Chief Guests, participants, parents, arbiters, volunteers, the Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council, supporters, and all those who contributed to the successful conduct of the event. The celebration concluded on a high note, reaffirming ANCA’s commitment to promoting chess and nurturing young talent across the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.